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International business leader shares experience with Tees Valley SMEs

Companies in the Tees Valley have been given advice on how to innovate and grow by an international business leader.

Anthony Newstead talking to DigitalCity SCALE businesses at Teesside University

As part of the DigitalCity SCALE programme, Anthony Newstead who has held numerous global tech roles, shared his unique and exciting viewpoints with members of the Tees Valley tech community.

DigitalCity, based at Teesside University, with support from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and European Regional Development Fund, works with digital and non-digital companies to drive innovation and growth.

DigitalCity SCALE is a three-month programme designed specifically for ambitious businesses in the digital and technology sectors who can demonstrate high growth and potential for scaling.

Fourteen businesses are currently undergoing the fully-funded SCALE programme, which is focused around five pillars of scaling and increasing the profitability of a business.

The programme focuses on peer-to-peer learning, where business leaders who face the same challenges and obstacles share knowledge, ideas and experience.

A dedicated business mentor also works with participants to help them formulate a bespoke action plan to ensure that their aspirations are turned into reality.

The SCALE programme also offers workshops and talks from inspirational business leaders who share insights from their own entrepreneurial journey.

Anthony Newstead, a consultant in enterprise innovation and business transformation, has previously worked for a number of household names such as Coca-Cola looking at emerging technology and strategic innovation.

During his time at Coca-Cola he led the development of a commercialisation program for start-ups in Tel Aviv called The Bridge - acting as a ‘bridge’ between the entrepreneurial community and major global markets including the US, Europe and beyond – and co-founded a uniquely holistic community-based model to start up engagement, launched as BridgeCommunity, in Atlanta, GA.

Anthony spoke to DigitalCity SCALE as part of Digital Leaders Week about how SMEs can overcome barriers to innovation and growth.

He said: 'It is great to be at Teesside University to help support the programmes that are available here to students and graduates.

'Hopefully my knowledge and experience will, in some way, offer a little bit of help and encouragement to the wide range of start-up and scale-up businesses who are already doing fantastic work in the region.'

David Dixon, DigitalCity Investment Manager, said: 'This is the second cohort of DigitalCity SCALE and the programme is proving to be of enormous benefit to participants as they look to grow their businesses.

'We were delighted to welcome Anthony to Teesside and he gave a fascinating talk about the best ways in which SMEs can innovate and scale-up.'

In the News

International business leader shares experience with Tees Valley SMEsNorth East Chamber of Commerce, online, 10/07/2018
Companies in the Tees Valley have been given advice on how to innovate and grow by an international business leader.